3^4 
THE ANTIQUITY OF MAN 
the occipital fragment has been placed in position. If 
we have proceeded rightly in the two previous stages, then 
the occipital fragment ought to slip into place, without 
force or pressure, and take up a natural relationship with 
neighbouring parts of the skull. In the case of the test 
skull, an approximately correct result was obtained on 
the third attempt ; in the case of the Piltdown skull, 
where the problem is more complex, an approach to 
symmetry and a correct adjustment of parts came only 
after many experimental reconstructions. 
How near a true reconstruction of the original form 
50 O 50 75 50 
RECONSTRUCTION. CAST OF ORIGINAL. 
Fig. 129. — View of the reconstruction and of the original test skull. 
can be obtained by the use of such a method is apparent 
in fig. 129. As regards the width and height, the 
reconstruction was in close agreement with the original 
skull from which the fragments given to me had been cut. 
The general form was rightly reproduced. There were 
certain minor errors which could have been eliminated 
had there been sufficient time at my disposal. It is 
obvious in fig. 129 that the right parietal fragment is 
placed too low, and that the occipital bone is too high. 
But as regards general outline and chief diameters the 
result of this experiment was reassuring. 
The criticism may be made here that in Dr Smith 
Woodward's original reconstruction the right and left 
